Ruben Rafkin
| Ruben Rafkin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
8 January 2002 Turku, Finland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| SHL team Former teams |
Örebro HK HC TPS Tappara | ||
| NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2020–present | ||
Ruben Rafkin (born 8 January 2002) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for Örebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Playing career
Rafkin was drafted 14th overall by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2019 CHL Import Draft.[1] He recorded four goals and 27 assists in 59 games for the Spitfires.[2] On April 3, 2020, Rafkin signed a two-year contract with HC TPS of the Finnish Liiga.[3] He made his professional debut for TPS during the 2020–21 season.[4]
During the 2024–25 season, Rafkin transferred from the Liiga following 33 appearances with Tappara to the SHL in joining Örebro HK on 6 February 2025.[5]
International play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ice hockey | ||
| Representing Finland | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
| 2022 Canada | ||
| 2021 Canada | ||
Rafkin represented Finland at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he appeared in one game and won a bronze medal. [6] He will again represent Finland at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[7]
Personal life
Rafkin is of Finnish and Russian-Jewish descent. His paternal great-grandfather had moved from Russia to Vyborg. He is the grandson of Dennis Rafkin, a Finnish businessman and the founder and the owner of Pizzeria Dennis restaurant chain.[8]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2018–19 | Tri-City Storm | USHL | 38 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | 59 | 4 | 27 | 31 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | TPS | Liiga | 48 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 36 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2021–22 | TPS | Liiga | 52 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 100 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | ||
| 2022–23 | TPS | Liiga | 39 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | TPS | Liiga | 57 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 79 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Tappara | Liiga | 33 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Liiga totals | 229 | 14 | 56 | 70 | 265 | 40 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 18 | ||||
International
| Year | T1eam | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Finland | U17 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | ||
| 2019 | Finland | HG18 | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2021 | Finland | WJC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | Finland | WJC | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
| Junior totals | 17 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 20 | ||||
References
- ^ Parker, Jim (27 June 2019). "Spitfires land a defenceman with a little moxie in physical Finn Rafkin". Windsor Star. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Parker, Jim (29 June 2020). "Spitfires retain rights to Rafkin ahead of selection in CHL Import Draft". Windsor Star. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Parker, Jim (3 April 2020). "Rafkin joins Piiroinen in leaving Spitfires to play at home in Finland". Windsor Star. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Fischer, John (25 May 2020). "Ruben Rafkin: 2020 NHL Draft Prospect Profile; Well-Traveled Defender". allaboutthejersey.com. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Finnish defender joins OHK" (in Swedish). Örebro HK. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- ^ Merk, Martin (9 December 2020). "Players battle for World Juniors ticket". IIHF.com. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Kimelman, Adam (8 December 2021). "Sweden announces roster for 2022 World Junior Championship". NHL.com. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Ikäluokkansa kovimpiin kuuluva suomalaislupaus Ruben Rafkin matkalla Yhdysvaltain juniorisarjaan, jatkoaika.com, 12 July 2016
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database